104 replies to this topic

[canbelto]

One other thing I was thinking: Osipova and Vasiliev are very "Bolshoi" dancers. They are what many ballet audiences associate with the company -- big, bold style, not the most beautiful classical line, but energy and charisma for days. I've met many balletomanes who've said that they like them because they're a reminder of the "good old" Bolshoi days. This is a real loss for the company.

[duffster]

Wow, When reading the headline at first (jumping to conclusions) I thought they were leaving for ABT. I'm sure there is more to this story- I feel sorry for their coaches who helped them become what they are today.

[Helene]

[Admin Beanie On]
This is a contentious topic, which usually requires donning the beanie.

Natalia, as Foreign Correspondent from Ballet Alert!, has given an overview.  All but people in the group Editorial Advisors and Natalia in this capacity -- need to provide links from official sources, and that includes me.  Statement without citations from official sources have been removed.

[Admin Beanie Off]

[Paul Parish]

Helene said, and I think this is astute:
Also, what dancers enjoy performing isn't always the greatest work and/or what the audience wants to see them in. Dancers at PNB often cite Nacho Duato's "Jardi Tancat" as one of their favorite things to dance, and audiences here lap it up every time it's presented.

[Natalia]

Paul Parish, on 14 November 2011 - 11:24 PM, said:

Helene said, and I think this is astute:
Also, what dancers enjoy performing isn't always the greatest work and/or what the audience wants to see them in. Dancers at PNB often cite Nacho Duato's "Jardi Tancat" as one of their favorite things to dance, and audiences here lap it up every time it's presented.

Well, the Kennedy Center audience did NOT lap it up when PNB danced this little dark work in a 'Ballet Across America' program a few years ago. I really felt sorry that great PNB dancers weren't given a chance to show-off their true classical skills.

Does anyone else on this forum get Rossiya 1 ('pierboye kanal') on their cable TVs? Last night's 9pm (EST in the US) 'Vesti' newscast ended with a meaty, 5-minute reportage on the 'Osipova-Vasiliev Skandal.' [I did not tape it but I bet that it's on YouTube or even on Rossiya 1's website.'] It dramatically began by showing O & V's luggage parked in front of the Mik Theater. (ha-ha) Then the theater's owner, Kekhman, escorted them to the rehearsal rooms. There were long interview clips of N & O seated in the brightly-lit auditorium (which used to be a subtle gem...now the Tackiest Theater in Petersburg, IMO). They claim to seek 'artistic freedom' and 'new horizons' with this FIVE-yr contract with the Mikhailovsky. The piece ended with an interview with Mr. Iksanov, the general director of the Bolshoi Theater, who said that he believes this was done 'for money' and that 'like any family, our doors are always open for the day when our children will realize that they must return home.'

EDITED TO ADD LINK TO NEWS REPORT:  I found this newer report on the O&V story, also on Rossiya 1...titled 'Last Pas de Deux': http://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=630544  Yesterday evening's report was different and, IMO, better, filmed during the daytime, as O&V entered the Mik Theater and did their first warm ups. Hopefully it will appear on YouTube soon.

[Natalia]

p.s. - Trying to put a positive spin on this:  The BEST thing, IMO, that could come out of this move would be for the Mikhailovsky to revive its 2010-Messerer version of LAURENCIA for Osipova & Vasiliev (imagine them in this!)....and either tape it for DVD or include it in the 2012 tour to NYC...or both. "All will make sense" if this comes true. Harrrumph!

I'm not sure if Laurencia stayed in the active rep after Messerer's departure & Duato's arrival. It's on the rep list but, AFAIK, not active this year.

[Natalia]

Amy Reusch, on 14 November 2011 - 01:43 PM, said:

Regarding Petipa and Duato, may I point out that Petipa is dead ....

I beg your pardon, Amy. Petipa Lives. I saw it in Milan last month, with the glorious revival of the TRUE Petipa Raymonda. I'll take that over a mixed-bill of Nacho Duatos any time. Of course, Duatos are cheaper to produce, so some companies love them.

[Amy Reusch]

Wonderful...  I am very excited then to see what new work he creates on these two stars.  I wonder what it will be?


Taking my words out of context changes their meaning.  It was perfectly clear that I wasn't refering to the viability of the classics.

[Helene]

Natalia, on 15 November 2011 - 04:12 AM, said:

I really felt sorry that great PNB dancers weren't given a chance to show-off their true classical skills.

I couldn't agree more, however, what they do best requires more dancers.   Carrie Imler and Lucien Postlewaite in "Square Dance", for example, would have shown the company off at its best, but would also have limited the lead roles to two and have required a corps of 12.  The Kennedy Center isn't interested in three pas de deux.  For a smaller group, I would have taken Paul Gibson's "Piano Dance", a much stronger piece.

There's nothing in "Jardi Tancat" or "Arenal", for example, in which Osipova or Vasiliev would be needed, and Duato's works I've seen on tour with his former company have few chances for a soloist to shine and certainly not star.

[Natalia]

Agreed, Helene. Or Duende or Na Floresta or Por Vos Muero or Remansos (the latter being in the current Bolshoi rep, I believe). Believe it or not, I am not knocking Duato; I like Duato when performed by the sorts of companies on which they were created (NDT and Compania Nacional). I don't like to see classical talent wasted on moderns, just as I would not want to waste time seeing a 'grounded' modern dancer slap-on pointe shoes, performing Dying Swan.

[dirac]

Amy Reusch, on 15 November 2011 - 05:17 AM, said:

Wonderful...  I am very excited then to see what new work he creates on these two stars.  I wonder what it will be?

Taking my words out of context changes their meaning.  It was perfectly clear that I wasn't referring to the viability of the classics.

It will indeed be interesting to see what he does with two such virtuosi at his disposal. This could be new territory for all the parties concerned and let's hope they will all benefit.

[puppytreats]

When I look at pictures of Natalia with other ballerinas, her thigh muscles look completely different - they are shaped differently, are much more developed, and appear stronger.  I was wondering if anyone else noticed this, and if something like this is the likely product of genetics or of a specific type or duration of muscle training.

[annamicro]

Natalia, on 14 November 2011 - 04:18 AM, said:

In the current season, Vasiliev is still expected to debut 'L'Arlesienne' for the upcoming Roland Petit tribute gala on Dec 28,

A Russian debut: he has already danced l'Arlesienne in Rome, in 2010. He also won an Italian ballet prize for that performance

http://www.danzaedan...com/premio.html

It seems that their repertoire is already huge, clearly they want more. I hope not too much.

[Natalia]

WOW. So Vasiliev was dancing a lot -- and ballets of great variety.  Maybe the thought of working with Yuri Grigorovich for a whole year, preparing Ivan the Terrible, was the straw that broke the camel's back? And Natalia was preparing -- of all things -- Masha in Grigorovich's Nutcracker. (Whoop-dee-dooh!) I could see how the prospect of 'A Year with Grigorovich' must have been depressing. I hand them that one.

So will Grigorovich now turn to (gulp) David Hallberg for Ivan the Terrible? Run, David, Run!!!

[puppytreats]

Poor David, to come at such a time must be devastating to him.  Some would see it as opportunity, I assume, but it could be very upseting, to someone who is  not Machiavellian.